Explores the childhood and youth of V.I. Lenin, examining his origins and early revolutionary activity, and analyzing his crucial relationship with his brother Alexander, who was executed in 1887 after an attempt on the Tsar's life.

Contents

Simbirsk : Lenin's home town -- A happy childhood and youth -- Unforgettable Kokushkino -- Fairy tales about the early revolutionism of V. Ulyanov -- The execution of Alexander Ulyanov -- Chernyshevski's What is to be done? and the "rebirth" of V. Ulyanov -- Lenin in Kazan and Samara (1888-93) -- Lenin and Fedoseev -- Chernyshevski and V. Ulyanov's transformation into Lenin -- Chernyshevski : source and inspiration of Lenin's materialism and dialectics -- Chernyshevski : source and inspiration of Lenin's hatred of liberalism -- Chernyshevski : source and inspiration of Lenin's principle : "The end justifies the means."